Reading Reflection: Creative Activism and Art; Three Myths of Migrant Literature; Berlin as a Migratory Setting and CERP relflection

Readings Key Points and Discussion Prompt:

1. Creative activism and urban art have many uses, but key ones include: 1) use as as instrument to collectively re-appropriate the urban space to identify oneself as being an urban citizen, 2) turning the poetic expressions of more general ideas, beliefs and convictions into something political and 3) help people and issues that are given little representation escaping invisibility.
2. Saša Stanišiç argues that, just as the oneness of the category of immigrant literature is a myth, so too is the idea that each immigrant is the same and has the same experiences. In addition, a person's identity as an immigrant does not define their entire identity and person. 
3. Dr. Hubner argues that, while migrant literature did not truly have an avenue of expression in Germany until the 1980's, it has become increasingly more prevalent in recent years and is characterized by cultural complexity of the works and the intercultural style of writing.

I have read a handful of books written by and about people who are migrants, and it seems that the identity of "migrant" continues to be very significant to the characters in the book or to the themes the author presents. Stanisic argued that literature written by immigrants does not always have to contain these themes as main points. I'd like to discuss if immigrants/migrants/refugees can ever detach themselves from that facet of their personality, and should they if possible. 

CERP reflection: 

I think that, out of everything in the readings we have discussed so far, I am fascinated with the actual process of a migrant group transitioning from an isolated minority to an integrated minority (or even majority). In particular, I am interested in studying the policies created that are related to this process, whether they aid in the process of integration or prevent it. (This hearkens back to some of the earlier readings from the Age of Migration that talk about how different societies reacted to immigration in the fact of globalization).